NEILLSVILLE, STATE FFA SENDING SHOES TO IRAQ
Monday, April 21st, 2008 -- 12:19 PM
Wisconsin FFA members are helping put shoes one the feet of Iraqi civilians.The Neillsville FFA was one of many from the state that took part in Operation Stand Solid. The idea for the shoe donation came a couple of years ago from Gary Olson, an agricultural educator from Fort Atkinson.
Olson was serving his first deployment in Iraq and noticed many of the children there didn't have shoes.
Upon returning to Wisconsin, Olson teamed up with the 2006-2007 school year FFA officers. They began a statewide drive to collect new and used shoes for Iraqi children and adults.
"This was a statewide program. Basically, they challenged every chapter to get 20 pairs of shoes donated," explains Amy Gerhardt, Neillsville's FFA advisor.
"We used it as a great way to get out into the community. We ended up collecting about 250 pairs of shoes from students, citizens, teachers. Shoes came from everywhere," Gerhardt says. "Word just traveled."
The feedback has been rewarding with stories of smiles from children when they received their shoes, even used ones.
"We all take for granted how many shoes we have in our closet that we don't even use."
Gerhardt says the harder part was raising money to send the shoes to Iraq, but that goal, too, is being accomplished.
The Wisconsin FFA collected over 5,000 pairs of shoes.
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